Stay on target

“A historical mystery set in the tragedy of the Frank Slide, one of Canada’s deadliest natural disasters. Eve Lee is in a self-destructive spiral – her big plans for a new life in Frank have not turned out how she planned. As Eve hits rock bottom, she’s forced to confront her expectations when her former lover disappears under questionable circumstances. But is there something sinister at play or is she simply being obsessive and self-centered? And will she be able to put the past behind her before she finds herself buried under it?”

One of my favorite comics in recent months have been comics based off a piece of history. Creators know how to take this one moment and history and bend it to their will. Letting readers in on that account of history, but also allowing their voice be heard in the process to create something incredible. Frank does this and so much more, allowing Ben Frankel not only to write about a piece of Canadian history but also shape it into something that he alone knows how to make. Frank is a gripping tale of mystery, murder and those good ol’ rocky mountains.

via Renegade Arts Press

Frankel fills Frank with small-town murder vibes that at first feels so claustrophobic. However, this keeps you involved and included with the going on’s in this town. The town of Frank (which is a real Canadian town) seems so small in Frankel’s comic, yet the events that take place, including the Frank Slide (an actual event) feels like they present their voice. In Frank, everyone knows everyone. You have to try real hard to hide your business from anyone who’s not supposed to be apart of it.

Frankel writes small town stories that I adore reading. He lets readers get to know and understand the characters more intimately than you would if this comic took place elsewhere. Frankel dives into the characters a mist their conspiracies, lives, double dealings and more. Even with the short amount of time you spend with them, you learn their shared history and the tragedy that happens and will with them. Frankel manages to twist that into a narrative that lets you in on its secrets but still keeps you at arm’s length.

The characters within Frank are some of the most human I’ve read in awhile. He doesn’t put on airs with them. He doesn’t tell you to like them or hate him. You’ll sit through this comic kinda just watching everything unfold with them like it was the best soap opera you’ve ever read. However, they’re also very human with flaws. You can see that the characters but you see it more with the lead character Eve Lee. She’s a woman that you ride or die with during this journey, and you’ll want to get off on the next stop. She’s in a grieving process, mourning a relationship that’s lost to her, but she’s also very neck deep in alcohol and in complete denial of her situation.

via Renegade Arts Press

Many people go through something like this. You want Eve to do and be better, but also tell her to wake up. It’s interesting to see a woman like her as a lead of comic. She’s selfish and self-centered, but you also know that she’s grieving, misunderstood and hurt. She’s in denial and wants to find out the truth. Frankel leaves you in a bind when it comes to Eve. Do you root for her? Do you want to see her crumple? Will you want to see her win or lose? Frankel creates those ambiguous human characters with heavy flaws that are absolutely incredible to follow. With his career as a writer, it will set him apart from others and leave us pining for more.

Let’s talk about Frankel’s dynamite art and colors to go along with his writing. There’s something so receptive and approachable about his art style. It very much lends to you becoming engaged with the story he’s telling. He brings us some rich details in his panels. One thing I absolutely adored was one panel with multiple movements of the characters in them. I’m an absolute sucker when seeing things like this in comics and it was so refreshing to see happen here. He also masters spectacular details that leave you running your eyes alone the pains to grab every bit of he puts in.

via Renegade Arts Press

Something that was incredible and I can’t stop talking about is his colors. This was something in the comic that also became approachable, yet you’re taken aback by the choices that work so well. Throughout the comics, he works in muted colors, but then also bursts with neon pinks for blood and sound effects and bright yellows with dark shadow settings. It’s impressive and quite stunning to see these together. Frankel works them together in harmony to bring out more features of his art.

Ryan Ferrier is a phenomenal letterer as he is a writer. For Frank, Ferrier increases Frankel’s script and those moments with the characters that are so intense and emotional. He does an incredible job placing where you get so much more out of the character with the art combined. If there’s one thing to point out that really sells him as a fantastic letterer is the fact that he very much intensifies pages that have nothing in it. Towards the end of Frank, the disaster happens. There are a couple of pages that are black with static in the middle. Ferrier’s placement of those is absolutely brilliant, building that heartwrenching moment with letters until you come to the surface.